You can always work out which poker players don't have understanding wives: on the last level of the day, they feel obliged to 'double up or go home'. All married men play one less day than the rest of the field; if it's a four day event, they'll deceitfully inform the Mrs., "It's only a three day tournament, luv," fully aware that if they do happen to fluke the final, the little white lie will be instantly negated by the guaranteed payday and a steak dinner at Gaucho for the other half. Win, and you're set for at least another six months of hassle-free poker - although be aware that expectations will now be high.
For those of us yet to tie the knot and lock in the shackles, there's simply something satisfying about bagging up at the final whistle and garnishing our freedom with a ticket to Day 2, however little ink we use when we tally our chip count. I once travelled from Birmingham to Luton to release a single chip from my bag having lost a big pot on the penultimate hand; I doubled it up four times with inferior hands before having my hopes of a Straus/napkin-esque comeback dashed by a cooler in that teasing manner that only the poker gods know.
At Nottingham Live...
Click to read full blog...
David Gentry - London Calling - Part 1
Neil Channing - Holiday
Kevin Williams - Spectacle
Jamie Burland - You Do It to Yourself
Ben Meredtih - Add-On
Ross Jarvis - Neil Channing's Golden Ticket
Sam Razavi - End of Days
Sam Razavi - Armageddon Outta' Here!
Richard Ashby - Poker Introspection
David Gentry - London Calling - Part 2